What Causes Alopecia in Adults

Alopecia can affect anyone. It most commonly affects the scalp, but not necessarily. It may affect the entire body. There are numerous causes of hair loss, like androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and many more. Hence, identifying the cause of alopecia is a bit challenging.

Studies suggest that almost one-fifth of young adults may experience hair loss. However, hair loss is more severe in those older than 30 years.

Although hair loss is common in both genders, it tends to be more severe in men. It appears that almost half of men aged 29-49 years have significant hair loss. In contrast, the majority of older men experience hair loss.

Significant hair loss may lead to baldness. Although hair loss is a significant aesthetic problem, it may also indicate an underlying severe health condition.

Therefore, it is essential to understand the causes of alopecia. Moreover, identifying the cause of hair loss may also help treat it effectively.

5 Symptoms of alopecia areata

Knowing hair loss symptoms may help identify the underlying cause. For example, few may experience rapid hair loss. However, most are likely to experience gradual hair loss.

1. Gradual hair loss on the top of the scalp

It is the most common type of hair loss, which may be due to:

• hereditary reasons
• nutritional deficiencies
• hormones
• diseases

Quite often, people would experience gradual hair loss and receding hairline. This kind of hair loss is quite common in men and may also affect older women.

2. Patchy hair loss or circular spots

It may happen due to many reasons like infections or alopecia areata. In this condition, circular patches may develop on the scalp and even on the beard or eyebrows.

In some, the skin may become itchy, but not in all cases. Sometimes, there may be just a single circular path of baldness that one may discover by accident while combing, or others may tell a person about it.

3. Sudden hair loss

It is more likely due to emotional shock or severe systemic disease. In some, such issues may occur due to hormonal issues and even due to thyroid disease.

In the condition, a person may experience a significant number of hairs coming out while washing or combining hair. Generally, such kind of hair loss is temporary hair loss and reversible.

4. Full body hair loss

It indicates something more severe, like a life-threatening systemic disease. It may also occur secondary to the use of certain medications, chemotherapy, poisoning, and more.

However, such a hair loss is reversible if the underlying condition is treated.

5. Small patches with scaling

This kind of hair loss is more likely to occur due to fungal infection or ringworm.

7 most common causes of alopecia in adults

1. Hereditary hair loss

In medical terminology, it is called androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss. People affected by the condition have a family history of hair loss.

It causes male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss.

Here it is vital to understand that though the condition may affect both genders, it is more common in men and tends to be more severe.

In the condition, hair follicles start shrinking due to hereditary causes, ultimately leading to their irreversible loss. It is the main cause of irreversible baldness, especially affecting the front and top of the scalp.

Some of the early signs of the condition is a receding hairline. However, in many, the condition may progress quite slowly.

Unlike common disbelieve, the condition can be treated in its early stages. Some individuals may respond quite well to topical solutions and oral medicines.

However, in many, the condition may continue to progress, thus requiring a hair transplant.

2. Age

Age might be a non-modifiable factor for hair loss, and most would experience some hair loss due to ageing.

However, one can significantly slow down or even reverse age-related hair loss through nutrition therapy with the use of various supplements and medications.

The cause of hair loss related to ageing is the slow down in metabolic processes. It is also associated with hair greying.

3. Alopecia areata

It is among the most common causes of hair loss. It approximately affects 2% of the population globally. It is an autoimmune disease, a condition when the immune system attacks the hair roots. Some individuals develop alopecia areata along with other autoimmune conditions.

Alopecia areata causes hair loss in oval patches. Sometimes there may be a single such patch on the scalp.

However, quite often, there might be multiple oval patches of hair loss. In some instances, it may affect the entire scalp or even the entire body.

One of the problems with alopecia areata is the unpredictability of the condition. In about 80% of cases, hair regrows spontaneously. However, the condition is characterized by sudden relapses.

Although doctors may use various treatments, from topical minoxidil to immunotherapy, treatment may not work in every case.

In a small number of cases, it may cause irreversible hair loss as autoimmunity may completely destroy hair follicles.

4. Cancer treatment options for alopecia areata

Cancer is pretty common, and more so in older adults. Cancer treatments involving radiation therapy and chemotherapy may cause severe hair loss. Hair loss generally occurs within a few days of treatment.

Hair loss due to chemotherapy is transient and is best treated with a wig. When the hair grows back, it may be different in colour and texture from the original.

5. Hormonal issues can cause bare patches and hair loss

Additionally, one of the common causes of hair loss, especially in females, is hormonal changes. Therefore, hair thinning or even hair loss is quite common in those living with PCOS.

Another hormonal issue that may lead to hair loss is high testosterone in men. Similarly, high cortisol caused due to chronic stress may lead to significant hair loss in many instances.

High or low thyroid is often associated with hair thinning and even hair loss.

6. Vitamin deficiencies

Few individuals may experience hair loss due to nutritional deficiencies like:

• iron
• vitamin B12
• vitamin Bs
• Biotin
• zinc
• vitamin C

Iron deficiency often leads to poor blood supply. In addition, studies suggest that iron deficiency may cause hair loss that is quite similar to male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss.

Among vitamins, vitamin D plays an important role in various signalling pathways, follicle growth and differentiation. In addition, studies show that lower vitamin D intake is often associated with non-scarring alopecia.

Studies show that vitamin D deficiency may significantly increase the risk of conditions like:

• alopecia areata
• androgenetic alopecia
• trichotillomania

In addition, it appears that low vitamin D also causes changes in:

• hormone levels
• inflammation
• altered immune responses

Biotin is another vitamin essential for hair growth. Although biotin deficiency may not cause considerable hair loss, its deficiency is often associated with a higher risk of other pathologies causing hair loss. Additionally, biotin supplementation appears to stimulate hair growth.

7. Hair loss due to infections

Yet, another frequent cause of hair loss is fungal infections like ringworm, dandruff, and other issues. Fungal infections are pretty common and affect most people during their lifetime.

Other causes that cause further hair loss

There could be tens of other causes for hair loss, from medications to hair care. In addition, some cosmetic procedures may also damage hair.

Some may also experience hair loss due to atopic dermatitis due to allergic reactions. Allergies should not be confused with autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata or psoriasis. Other rare causes are:

• sarcoidosis
• heavy metal poisoning
• radiation therapy
• rare skin conditions.

Stress alopecia (or psychogenic alopecia) is a form of hair loss that occurs in conjunction with particularly physically and/or psychologically stressful periods. There is a condition called traction alopecia which can cause thinning hair, bald patches and hair shedding too.

Most of these conditions are treatable, and hair loss due to these conditions is reversible.

Conclusion

Hair loss is quite a complex condition with varying signs and symptoms and different causes.

Fortunately, it is a reversible condition with the right kind of treatment in most cases. However, in a small number of cases, hair falls may progress to complete and irreversible baldness due to the death of hair follicles.

In such cases, a hair transplant remains the last resort. A hair transplant is a quite effective and long-lasting solution. It has also become increasingly affordable.

There are different ways of hair transplant. However, among the FUE, hair transplant is superior.

If you’re losing hair and you’re curious about hair loss treatment, you can find out how a hair transplant works.

FUE transplant is about taking individual hair follicles and then transplanting them. Thus hairs look more natural.

Additionally, it is worth understanding that hair transplants may be quite expensive in western Europe and the Americas. However, it is relatively more affordable in countries like Poland and Turkey.

Therefore, a hair transplant may be an option if you are living with significant hair loss and nothing seems to help. Europe Surgery is one of the best clinics to get a hair transplant.

If you’re struggling with patchy hair loss or alopecia universalis, our surgeon can help. Contact us if you’ve been dealing with male or female pattern baldness or if you’re living with alopecia areata.

Learn how a hair transplant works.

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